Photo: Mark Hoath donated part of his morning to hose Gloria Murray’s garden with water he collected from Coonamble Showgrounds. He refused her attempts to pay him for his help.
When the Times met Mark Hoath at a front yard on Coonamble’s Maule Street, we found him arguing fiercely with the home owner, Gloria Murray.
Gloria had sneaked $50 into his car and Mark refused to take it.
Mr Hoath volunteered to collect water and hose her gardens after he made a callout on social media for older residents needing help to access water from Council’s collection point at Coonamble Showgrounds.
The pair argued as he searched the front and back cabins before eventually finding the roll of cash.
“It’s the right thing to do, mate. It’s what community should do,” Mark said when asked why he was doing it.
“She’s got veggie gardens all over the place and it’s just dying.
“It’s just heartbreaking to see some of these oldies.”
Since making the post on Sunday 1 February, Mark said he has received at least ten requests for help.
On Monday morning 2 February, he had dispensed at least 6000 litres using a 1000 litre tank on the back of his utility.
Mark is one of a number of volunteers who emerged to deliver drinking and non-potable water, as Coonamble Shire set up their collection points to ease the pain of water restrictions.
Council announced on Friday 30 January the establishment of two sites for free water to alleviate pressure on residents.
One began on Sunday 1 February at the Coonamble Showgrounds, providing up to 1000 litres of river water per household per day for two weeks.
The river water is for household and garden use but is not suitable for drinking.
Council has also purchased drinking water packs from local retailers, which will be distributed daily in the car park behind the Sons of the Soil Hotel between 2 and 6 February.
When the Times visited the carpark on Monday morning, Rotarians Teresa Glover and Jackie Harris had already driven bags of water to 15 elderly people unable to collect themselves.
“There’s been a lot of big guard dogs,” Teresa laughed.
“But the elderly have been very thankful.
“When I posted it up on Facebook last night, I just said ‘anyone who knows anyone who’s not on social media, just let us know and then we can deliver to them as well.’”
The volunteers say they are happy to continue deliveries throughout the week.